Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare a 9x13-inch baking pan by lining it with foil or parchment paper, allowing edges to hang over for easy removal later. If you’re using foil, a quick spray with non-stick cooking spray can prevent sticking.
To make the crust, take the animal crackers, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt and process them in a food processor until they become fine crumbs, about 15 seconds. Next, drizzle in the melted butter and pulse until everything is combined. Press this crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake until golden brown, usually around 10 to 13 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes. Keep the oven on.
Now, let’s make the streusel topping. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, both types of sugar, and cornmeal. Add in the remaining melted butter and use a fork to combine until all the dry ingredients are evenly moistened. Set this aside for later.
For the filling, combine the sliced apples, melted butter, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook while stirring occasionally, until the apples soften and the liquid evaporates, around 8 to 10 minutes.
It’s time to assemble! Spread the cooked apples evenly over the cooled crust. Generously sprinkle the streusel topping over the apples, ensuring an even layer.
Return the pan to the oven and bake until the streusel is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. The aroma will be heavenly!
Once baked, allow the bars to cool completely on a wire rack, which could take about 2 hours. This step is essential for the bars to set properly.
When cooled, carefully lift the bars out of the pan using the foil or parchment overhangs. Cut into squares and serve. These bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
